OK - gotta come clean. For 3 minutes I've been...gasp...60 years old!
Yup - inauguration day. So every four years I am filled with joy (Obama! Clinton! Carter) or drinking heavily to ease the pain (Reagan, Bush, etc) on my birthday.
Hard to believe I've spent 12 of my 60 years - 20% of my life! - enjoying the banter here at DU. I've shared loss here, my first book, my frustrations, lots of tomato and Outer Banks pics...I am sure I've pissed off some of you, I've troll hunted, failed miserably at hosting, but mostly, learned so much - and admire so many of you for your intellect, wit and passion. And I've made some really good friends here - far too few of which I've gotten to meet in person.
Well - off to bed. Getting old now - can't stay up as late as I used to!
= new reply since forum marked as read
hey, you wouldn't happen to be in Raleigh, NC would you? 
May you have many more!
Happy birthday.
I look forward to a happy celebration on your next birthday too!
I too have spent a large percentage of my life here on DU. Not sure I would have made it through the Bush years without you and my other DU compatriots!
I always want a tomato sandwich when I see your posts. 
congrats on your first spin through the sixties!! I'll be there around Hallowe'en.
My next birthday is the Medicare one--and the Feds sent my 'birthday' card almost 4 months early!
See what you have to look forward to?
